Scald attack left dog in agony

Ellen Beardmore

A dog was scalded and left in ‘burning agony’ then dumped in a canal in one of the worst cases of cruelty rescue centre staff have ever seen.

Staffordshire bull terrier Colin’s skin and fur on his neck and back were burned off completely in the attack – which volunteers believe could have been carried out with hot water or oil.

He was found days later after a passer-by heard whimpering at the waterside in Holmes, Rotherham, and called dog wardens who found him perching on a ledge.

But his shocking condition is just one of the many abused or neglected animals in crisis that South Yorkshire charity Rain Rescue is being called to deal with.

Jacquie Nielson, who runs the centre based in Sheffield and Rotherham, said the charity even kept the address of its kennels secret after yobs turned up looking for previously abused dogs.

She added: “I have not seen anything this bad before. Colin was in absolute burning agony because the burns were so severe, I don’t know whether they were third degree burns, but they had taken all the layer of skin off.

“It isn’t just this one dog, we are rammed full of neglect and cruelty cases.

“South Yorkshire is a cruelty hotspot and rescue centres are collapsing all the time. There is no other place this dog could have been taken to but us, he would have ended up in kennels.”

Colin is recovering at the centre, with unusual treatments such as reiki healing and manuka honey bandages being used on his wound.

The patch also has to be cleaned and dressed daily.

The RSPCA is also looking into how the seven-year-old came to be injured.

Volunteer Linda Napper said Colin would not be rehomed for another five to six weeks, when his wound has healed.

She added: “Colin was just happy to see people when he came here.

“He still likes them and trusts them despite what he has been through.

“He was taken to the vets who took off the scabs because he had been scalded around four to five days before he was found.”

Rain Rescue is now urging people to help it come to the aid of more animals.

Jacqui added: “Financial donations are the only way people can help and we need support long term. We’ve got to be here for the future to help dogs like Colin.”